Syrian in Canada: ‘It’s Not Acceptable to Beat My Wife??’

A Syrian refugee in Canada put his wife in the hospital after beating her for a half hour with a hockey stick.

Smiling, Mohamad Rafia entered the court for the sentencing and addressed the judge, saying through an interpreter that he didn’t know it was a crime in Canada to beat one’s wife .

“He was not aware of the law and he was coming from a background where the laws are completely different,” said the interpreter. Furthermore, speaking for Rafia, the interpreter said, “Officials didn’t inform him of the differences in the law in Canada and that more should have been done to educate him. Why didn’t they explain the law?”

Canadian media were shocked by his words, as well as the statements of his wife, who defended her husband, saying that such an attack is culturally acceptable in the country from which they came.

Rafia was pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and uttering threats. He was sentenced to eight days in jail and one year of probation.

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The Clarion Project (formerly Clarion Fund) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to educating both policy makers and the public about the growing phenomenon of Islamic and other forms of extremism. The Clarion Project is committed to working towards safeguarding human rights for all peoples.